Federal shutdown affects Logan’s projects

The City of Logan Council meeting tackled several items of business, and other items on the agenda were put on hold until the Federal government shutdown is over.

The first of item on the agenda at the Tues., Oct. 8 meeting was Bill France and the Logan High School cast of Hairspray.

France introduced some of the key cast members of the upcoming production and explained that the performance of Hairspray will be held at the Coalfield Jamboree instead of at LHS on Nov. 14-16.

“We are asking the City of Logan to proclaim Thur., Nov. 14 as Hairspray Day in honor of the students involved — cast and crew — and also Logan High School for providing us with the platform and opportunity to do this,” France said.

Nolletti assured France that the city would be honored to do the proclamation and was pleased that the performance would be held in downtown Logan.

Second item included the payment of bills.

Jeff Valet informed the council that a final payment on the apparatus for the street department truck was $84,076.50.

Third item of business was the acceptance by council of the resignation of Councilman Mike Allie.

Allie, who was in his first term as councilmember, resigned the position via a letter dropped into the mailbox of Mayor Serafino Nolletti. Allie had been mentioned as a person who was aiding Federal investigators in the arrests of Greg Glick, Jamey Thompson, Guy Miller and Shawn Simon for arson.

The resignation was unanimously accepted by the council and mayor. Nolletti also asked the council to submit names for possible candidates to fill the vacant seat.

“If anybody who has any names who will be interested in doing this, let me know,” Nolletti said.

The next items of business included the update on FEMA, the Wilson Street/Pine Street slide. Both were tabled due to the fact that the current Federal government shutdown had affected FEMA.

“There are other issues, but the main one is that FEMA literally can’t travel due to the ‘slimdown,’” Ray Perry, Code Enforcement Officer, said.

A final reading for amending the City of Logan Election calendar and council unanimously accepted the amendment.

The mayor updated council on the progress and funding for the Central City Pedestrian Walk Bridge.

Chief of Police E.K. Harper informed the council that his department was still working with Federal government concerning ongoing investigations in the town and that there was a new traffic pattern in the area of the water board.

“It looks a whole lot better. We’ve had a few complaints about speeding,” Harper said.

Harper said that he and Nolletti had been informed that at 25 mph speed limit would be posted in the near future in front of the water board.

“It is a little bit different, but it will be permanent like that,” Nolletti said of the traffic pattern.

“The mayor and I spoke with the inspectors and recommended a 25 limit and also a couple of large signs at the end of Stratton Street stating ‘No Large Trucks,’” Harper said. “Cause I am sure that in some point in time some out of town trucker is going to go straight there as opposed to making a left turn and getting bottled necked at Dead Man’s Curve.”

Fire Chief Scott Beckett informed council that they had 69 calls and that they continue their training every week.

“We’ve been doing some high end rescue training and we’ve had two industrial accidents in the last 35 to 40 days,” Beckett said.

Code Enforcement Officer Ray Perry informed council that demolition of the Logan Wholesale building continues and that half the area would be a parking lot.

“Several more large buildings are scheduled for demolition and are already funded,” Perry said. “Every month the town is looking better and better… I’ve even noticed a lot less refuse along the sidewalks too.”

Valet said B&O taxes have been down.

“It’s indicative of the times,” Valet said. “Hopefully it will pick back up again.”